News: Leon Ready to Start ‘Impact Drills’ Next Month
Leon Washington is in Florida this week, where he spoke with ProFootballTalk’s Gregg Rosenthal about his recovery, and his future with the Jets.
“Washington .. was in a great mood, fired up over Florida State’s recruiting class. He showed no signs of a brace for his ankle and didn’t walk with a limp.
He’ll start “impact drills” in a month and is hopeful to return to football activities at some point before training camp. When he returns, he plans to still be a return man and active in the backfield.
“I just like having the ball in my hands, no matter how it gets there,” Washington said.
He gave credit to the Jets trainers for getting him ahead of schedule as he recovers. Washington is also not sweating his uncertain contract situation. His agent has been in touch with the Jets of late.
“They want me to be a Jet, and I want to be a Jet. . . . No matter what, I think I’ll be a Jet for a long time.”
I love hearing that, and with the likelihood that the team will tender him for this year and that Leon is OK with it and looking forward to a longer-term deal with the team. The Jets might give him the long-term deal he’s looking for if he makes a full recovery and takes a larger role in the offense in 2010, time will tell how they play this out.
I’m glad Leon wants to still participate in kick returns for the team, but depending on exactly what the Jets do this offseason with Thomas Jones, they might allocate him elsewhere. With the new anti-wedge rule, Leon’s averages were down in 2009, as we wrote about this phenomenon back in October. If the Jets are going to keep Brad Smith, this might be an ideal place to get their monies worth from him as the primary returner and not Leon — especially if Leon is going to have to take a more active role in the running game along with Shonn Greene.
Thanks to W. Adams for sending this on!
10 Responses to News: Leon Ready to Start ‘Impact Drills’ Next Month
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I think the rule changes have eliminated alot of what Leon brought to the return game. I heard Westoff kind of admit that and he really like what Brad Smith brought to the returns after Leon went down…
I would like to see Leon used alot more in the back field and in the passing game. The guy is a mismatch to anyone covering him on the defense….
i hope he comes back 100% and really develops into what alot of fans think he can be….
Leon, Greene, Braylon, Cotch, Keller, Sanchez, our OL with a limited role for a healthy TJ and a possible added WR in the slot?? I am pretty fired up for what we have in play for next year
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Bob Vila says:
@ GP – Agreed.
Leon is a wonderful guy, and a great football player. The young nucleus we’re building has me so excited about the future of this team.
Sanchez, Washington, Greene, Ferguson, Mangold, Keller, Harris, Revis, Rhodes.
All young, all impact players.
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ramble914 says:
Imagine if he was healthy for this palyoff run!! It would have been a much different outcome.
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“playoff” run
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That was the thing I missed most from the great post-season run this year — not having that moment on Sunday where I jumped off my couch and shouted “LEON!!!!!”
Can’t wait to see #29 healthy and back on the field. Is it August yet?
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Leon, TJ, Greene in the backfield, Smith returning kicks with the occasional gadget/wildcat play. Makes perfect sense.
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JesusRevis says:
I LOVE YOU LEON WASHINGTON!!!!!!!
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art says:
want to be in the playoffs 2010—receivers edwards–cotch &washington in the slot—would scare the hell out the defenders plus jones–green in the backfield-wash to light to run against 300 plus pound lineman–he would not finish the season running at 185–outside he would be another welker tied with sanchez who could stop that offense.
If I could, I would hibernate until the 2010 season kicks off.